Can having diabetes affect my hepatitis B? Expand You are more likely to get liver cancer if you have both hepatitis B and diabetes. If you have hepatitis B, it's important to prevent or manage your diabetes. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor about looking after your health. A healthy lifestyle is important for both hepatitis B and diabetes. To stay healthy you can: eat healthy food exercise drink less alcohol (no alcohol is best) stop smoking References: Hepatitis B Precautions for People Living with Diabetes., Hepatitis B Foundation. Updated 7 November 2022
Can I get hepatitis B from sharing food or eating utensils? Expand No. Hepatitis B doesn't spread through touching or saliva. You can only get hepatitis B from infected blood or some types of body fluids. Most people get hepatitis B at birth or in early childhood. You can also get hepatitis B if you have sex without a condom or have an unsafe medical procedure. Find out more about hepatitis B References Hepatitis B, All Good, ASHM The biggest myths about hepatitis B uncovered, Haggan, M. Updated 7 November 2022
Can I get hepatitis B through hugging or kissing? Expand No. Hepatitis B does not spread through touching or saliva. You can only get hepatitis B from infected blood or some types of body fluids. Most people get hepatitis B at birth or in early childhood. You can also get hepatitis B if you have sex without a condom or have an unsafe medical procedure. Find out more about hepatitis B References Hepatitis B, All Good, ASHM The biggest myths about hepatitis B uncovered, Haggan, M. Updated 6 March 2023
Can I get hepatitis B through sex? Expand Yes. Although most people get hepatitis B at birth, sex is one of the other ways it spreads. Hepatitis B spreads through blood, semen and some other liquids. This means it can spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom. You can protect yourself against hepatitis B by using a condom. But the best way to protect yourself is by getting a vaccine. Hepatitis B can't spread through normal hugging, kissing or sharing meals, showers or toilets with someone who has hepatitis B. Find out more about hepatitis B and relationships Find out more about hepatitis B vaccines References When Someone Close To You Has Chronic Hepatitis B. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated: 7 November 2022
Do I need to tell anyone if I have hepatitis B? Expand Most of the time it is your choice whether or not to tell people if you have hepatitis B. You don't have to tell your doctor, dentist, or people who work in tattoo and piercing parlours. This is because these places have rules in place to stop the spread of viruses. It's a good idea to tell your partner, family and people you live with. This means they can get tested for hepatitis B. If they don't have it they can protect themselves by getting a vaccine. Sometimes you must tell people that you have hepatitis B. You must tell people: before giving blood. You can't give blood if you have chronic hepatitis B. If you no longer have hepatitis B you need to wait at least 12 months after clearing it. Let the blood bank know. when applying for insurance. This could be for life insurance and some other types. This is because your health might change whether or not they decide to insure you. members of the Australian Defence Force, including Navy, Army and Air Forces. If you apply to join the Australian Defence Force you will get tested for hepatitis B. if you are a healthcare worker who carries out exposure-prone procedures (EPPs). These are healthcare workers who could come into contact with sharp instruments or tissues (such as splinters of bone or teeth) inside a person’s body. Most often this applies to surgeons and dentists. Most healthcare workers do not do EPPs. You can get more advice about this on the Department of Health website. when applying for a visa to live in Australia. Everything you say in your application form must be true. Sometimes you may need to have a hepatitis B test if you are applying to live in Australia. If you wish to donate organs or sperm. They will test you for hepatitis B before you can donate organs or sperm. Some people with hepatitis B can still donate but others can't. Find out more about your rights and responsibilities living with hepatitis B References Hepatitis B, All Good, ASHM I had hepatitis - can I donate? Australian Red Cross Blood Service CDNA National Guidelines for healthcare workers on managing bloodborne viruses, Department of Health and Aged Care Updated 7 November 2022
How can I check if I’m immune to hepatitis B? Expand If you don’t know whether or not you are immune, your doctor can do a blood test to check. Most babies born in Australia after 1 May 2000 had the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. They would have also had a few follow-up doses. Children who were at high school after this date may also have had the vaccine. This may have been through a school catch-up immunisation program. Find out more about vaccination against hepatitis B References Hepatitis B serology, Australian Family Physician Updated 6 March 2023
I have hepatitis B but I feel fine. Do I really need to get regular liver checks? Expand Yes, you should get your liver checked every 6 to 12 months. Even if you feel fine, hepatitis B can still damage your liver. If you wait until you feel sick, you might already have liver damage that can't be fixed. The only way to know this is to keep getting your liver checked. If the virus starts causing damage to your liver, you can take medicine. This can slow down the damage and make you less likely to get liver disease or liver cancer. Find out more about liver health checks Find out more about the symptoms of hepatitis B References ASHM. (2019). What is hepatitis B. Retrieved from All Good. Updated 6 March 2023
I’m pregnant and have hep B – can my baby get it? Expand Yes, the most common way people get hepatitis B is through birth. Hepatitis B does not spread through breast milk. There are ways to stop hepatitis B from spreading from mother to child. Most babies born in Australia have a hepatitis B vaccine as soon as they are born. We call this the birth dose. If you are pregnant and have hepatitis B, your baby should have an extra injection within 12 hours of birth. This injection has something called hepatitis B immunoglobulin. These are antibodies that help the body fight the virus. They'll also get three more hepatitis B vaccines over the next 6 months like other babies. Together this works well to protect the baby against the virus. Your baby will have a blood test when they are about nine to 12 months old. This test checks for infection and immunity. Some women have a high level of the virus in their body while they are pregnant. This means they are more likely to pass it on to their baby. If you have a high level of hepatitis B your doctor can give you an antiviral medicine. You'll take this during the third trimester and up to a few weeks after birth. This will make it less likely that you pass the virus onto your baby. Talk to your doctor about this. They may suggest you keep taking the medicine, stop, or swap to another medicine. Find out more about hepatitis B vaccination Find out more about treatment for hepatitis B References Infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B surface antigen–positive are recommended to receive both hepatitis B vaccine and HBIG, Australian Immunistaion Handbook, Department of Health and Aged Care Managing hepatitis B virus in pregnancy and children, B Positive, ASHM Updated 6 March 2023
I’ve had a blood test, have I been tested for hepatitis B? Expand Testing for hepatitis B is not a part of normal blood test. Most of the time you'll have to ask your doctor. There are two exceptions to this: Most pregnant women get tested for hepatitis B as part of normal pregnancy checks If you give blood to the blood bank, they will test it for hepatitis B. They'll tell you if you have come into contact with the virus. Read our article No, you’re not being tested for hepatitis as part of a routine blood test Read our article No, you’re not being tested for hepatitis as part of a routine blood test References Blood tests during pregnancy, Pregnancy, birth & baby. Blood testing and safety. Australian Red Cross. Updated 6 March 2023
If I have hepatitis B, should I get a hepatitis A vaccine? Expand Yes. Getting the hepatitis A vaccine is safe if you have hepatitis B. The hepatitis A vaccine can protect your liver from another infection that could damage it. Find out more about hepatitis A References Hepatitis A immunisation service, Department of Health and Aged Care Updated 6 March 2023
If I have hepatitis B, should my family get tested? Expand Yes. It's your choice who you tell that you have hepatitis B. It's a good idea to tell your partner, family and the people you live with. This means they can get tested. If they have never had hepatitis B they can protect themselves by getting the vaccine. Find out more about testing for hepatitis B Find out more about vaccination against hepatitis B Find out more about liver checks References Hepatitis B immunisation service. Australian Government Department of Health Hepatitis B, All Good, ASHM Updated 6 March 2023
Is it safe to breastfeed if I have hepatitis B? Expand Yes. To make sure it is safe, your baby should get two injections when they are born. Your baby has these injections within the first 12 hours. One injection contains immunoglobulin. These are antibodies that help the body fight the virus. The other injection is baby's first hepatitis B vaccine. All babies get this vaccine, even if their mother doesn't have hepatitis B. They'll also get hepatitis B vaccines over the next 6 months. Once your baby has received their immunoglobulin injection it is safe to breastfeed. References Hepatitis B or C Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Australian consensus recommendations for the management of hepatitis B infection, GESA Management of Hepatitis B in pregnancy, RANZCOG Updated 6 March 2023
Is it safe to take herbal medicines or traditional Chinese medicines if I have hep B? Expand It depends on the medicine, but you should always talk to your doctor first as some of these medicines can harm your liver. There is no evidence that alternative medicines (including herbal medicines and Traditional Chinese Medicine) can cure or treat hepatitis B, despite what you might see on the Internet. If you are taking antiviral treatment for hepatitis B, some herbal medicines can interact with the antiviral medicines, which can be dangerous. Remember that alternative medicines are not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. If you have hepatitis B it is important to eat healthy, exercise and avoid alcohol and tobacco. Find out more about herbal medicines and hepatitis B References: hep. (2019, March 4). Natural Remedies and Hepatitis B. Retrieved from hepmag. Updated 11 December 2020
Is there a cure for hepatitis B? Expand No. There is no cure for hepatitis B. But you can take medicine to manage your illness and prevent liver damage. You can lower your chances of getting liver disease and liver cancer by taking medicine and getting liver checks every 6 to 12 months. Experts are looking at new ways to treat hepatitis B. This may lead to a cure in the future. Find out more about hepatitis B treatment Find out more about hepatitis B monitoring References Hepatitis B, All Good, ASHM Updated 15 April 2020
What happens if I don’t complete the full course of vaccine injections, do I need to start again from the beginning? Expand No, you should continue from your last dose. You can have a blood test four weeks after the last dose of the vaccine to make sure you are immune. Find out more about hepatitis B vaccinations References Hepatitis B Foundation. (n.d.). Vaccination. Retrieved from Hepatitis B Foundation. Updated 2 December 2019
What happens if I don’t get treatment for hepatitis B? Expand Without treatment you may be at greater risk of developing serious liver disease or liver cancer. One in four people with chronic hepatitis B will die as a result of the condition. However, because the virus goes through different phases, it is not always damaging your liver. In some people the hepatitis B virus is there but it is not causing any damage - it is sleeping. It can stay sleeping for a long time, but it can also wake up at any time and start causing damage to your liver. This is why not everyone with hepatitis B needs treatment. But, if the virus wakes up and starts damaging your liver, you may need to start treatment. Generally, as people living with hepatitis B age, the likelihood of liver damage and need for antiviral treatment increases. It’s very important to get regular liver check-ups (every six months) to determine if and when you need treatment. Find out more about hepatitis B treatment Find out more about liver checks for hepatitis B References: ASHM. (2014). B Positive: All you wanted to know about hepatitis B. Darlinghurst, NSW: ASHM. Cancer Council Victoria. (n.d.). Hepatitis and liver cancer. Retrieved from Cancer Council Victoria. Updated 11 December 2020
What is the difference between hepatitis B and hepatitis C? Expand Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are different types of virus that damage your liver. They both spread through blood. But people get these two types of viruses in different ways. The treatment for them varies too. Hepatitis B spreads through blood and some body fluids. Most people get hepatitis B at birth or in early childhood. You can also get hepatitis B if you have sex without a condom or have unsafe medical procedures. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B, but you can't get rid of it completely. There is treatment that works really well. This lowers the amount of damage to your liver. Hepatitis C spreads through the blood. Most people in Australia get hepatitis C by taking drugs with a needle. But you can also get it by getting a tattoo by someone who is not a proper tattoo artist. You can get it as well through unsafe medical procedures and vaccination programs, or anal sex without a condom. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. But there are medicines that work well to get rid of it. Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver disease and liver cancer. Find out more about hepatitis B Find out more about hepatitis C References Hepatitis B, All Good, ASHM Hepatitis C, All Good, ASHM Updated 14 March 2023
Where can I get vaccinated for hepatitis B? Expand You can get the hepatitis B vaccine from your local doctor. Infants will usually get the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine at the hospital before they are discharged. You may also be able to get hepatitis B vaccines from: your local council or community health clinics Aboriginal medical services school-based immunisation programs travel medical clinics sexual health clinics prison health centres aged care facilities. You should check with these providers whether they are able to provide the hepatitis B vaccine and how much it will cost. Some people, including infants and children, can get the hepatitis B vaccine for free. Remember, the vaccine involves up to three injections over several appointments to ensure immunity against hepatitis B is achieved. Find out more vaccination against hepatitis B References Department of Health. (2018, July 2). Where can I get immunised. Updated 2 December 2019
Will my acute hepatitis B become chronic? Expand How hepatitis B affects each person is varied and complex. Most of the time young children are much more likely to get chronic hepatitis B. This table shows what is likely to happen. It depends on how old you are when you come into contact with hepatitis B. Age exposed to hepatitis B Acute hepatitis B Chronic hepatitis B Infants (under one year old) Most will not get any acute hepatitis B signs 90% will get chronic (lifelong) hepatitis B Young children (aged one to six years old) Most will not get any acute hepatitis B signs 30% will get chronic (lifelong) hepatitis B Adults or older children (over six years old) Many will get acute hepatitis B signs Less than 5% will get chronic (lifelong) hepatitis B Find out more about hepatitis B vaccination References Hepatitis B. Retrieved from World Health Organization. Updated 6 March 2023